India Proposes Long-Term Visas For Business And Professionals to ASEAN

India feels the operationalisation of the agreement would provide greater impetus to the trade and investment flows.

Khurshid also said there is a need to encourage multimodal use of the geographic linkages. "Do we not need to progress from a natural partnership to a partnership of bringing together capacities for rapid economic growth and prosperity? And should not the private sectors seek a more decisive role in this process?

"As part of its maritime agenda, India is allowing 100 percent FDI under the automatic route for construction and maintenance of ports. We are giving tax holidays, encouraging private sector participation in ports and incentivizing ship building. The maritime transport sector in India is seeing a rewrite of its story. We would welcome similar enabling policies and measures for Indian Industry willing to invest in ASEAN ambitions," he said.

Another very important dimension to the ASEAN-India strategic partnership is its increasing relevance to the political-security space in East Asia. The minister assured ASEAN partners that India could be net security provider in the Southeast Asian region.

"For both ASEAN and India, the bulk of our external trade by volume and by value is ocean borne. Our energy security is linked to maritime sea lines of communication. Transnational crimes, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism, are matters of the highest priority, where there can be more effective engagement between ASEAN and India. We, therefore, support the ASEAN view which calls for greater ASEAN-India collaboration in political-security issues.

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